Explaining that “shock therapy” will help him achieve better results, Novak Djokovic announced on Friday that he has ended his long-term partnership with coach Marian Vajda, fitness coach Gebhard Phil Gritsch, and physiotherapist Miljan Amanovic. The team mutually agreed to part ways after a lengthy and detailed discussion.
“I am forever grateful to Marian, GG, and Miljan for decade of friendship, professionalism and commitment to my career goals,” Djokovic commented. “Without their support I couldn’t have achieved these professional heights. I know they completely dedicated themselves and their lives to help me achieve my dreams and they were always my driving force and wind in my back. It was not an easy decision, but we all felt that we need a change.
“I am very grateful and proud of our relationship and unbreakable bond that we built through years of mutual love, respect and understanding. They are my family and that will never change.”
“Time spent with Novak feels like a whole lifetime,” Vajda reflected. “We were part of many of his incredible achievements, we were living and breathing for his dreams. I gave everything I could as a coach and I am very proud of our results. We arrived to the point where we all realized we need new energy in the team. Novak can do so much more and I am sure he will. I am convinced that he will remain at the top of the tennis for many years and that he will bring a lot of joy to all the tennis fans around the world with his victories. Of course, we will continue consulting each other, seeing each other and hanging out together because after all, we are a family.”
“It was a great privilege to have worked with Novak for exactly eight years to the day,” Gritsch said. “It is the dream of every coach to be able to work with an athlete as gifted, professional and committed as Novak.”
“Novak is my best friend and my brother,” Amanovic added. “I spent more time with him than with my family in the past 10 years. Nothing will change between us as our lives are interconnected in so many ways. I will forever be here for him and I look forward to seeing him rise to his full potential again.”
Djokovic is a 12-time Grand Slam champion and he reigned at the top of the ranking for several years before being overtaken by Andy Murray last fall. The Serb has struggled in 2017, with a 7-4 record in his last four tournaments since capturing the Doha title to begin this season. Surprise losses have come at the hands of Denis Istomin, David Goffin, and Nick Kyrgios (twice).
“I feel like this is a new chapter in my life,” he concluded. “My career was always on the upward path and this time I’m experiencing how it is when the path takes you in a different direction. I want to find a way to come back to the top stronger and more resilient.”
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Wow…that truly is a “shocker”…but I was very impressed by the mtutal respect expressed by all members of the Team….very classy!
Yes, but….if you’re unemployed and, presumably, looking for work in your field, trashing your previous employer is not the way to go. That said, Djokovic has been loyal to his team for a long time – and vice versa – as tennis players go. We wouldn’t be as surprised if Roger or Andy made some team changes. Granted, it’s pretty unusual to fire everyone in sight.
He might even have given them a golden or at least a tin parachute.
Well said Scoot^, it’s nice to see them holding each other in high regard. Was it Federer who didn’t have a coach for some time? If so, I wonder if Nole will follow that path. I predict Novak will not return to form quickly, but perhaps will have a return to the top late in his career